Injury Updates for Howard, Utley

-According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Ryan Howard saw a wound specialist on Monday and his condition is improving, but not enough to ramp up his activity just yet. He hasn’t taken part in any baseball activities since February 27. Ruben Amaro is again preaching “no timetable” with Howard, although the word that he continues to improve is a good thing.

–Chase Utley will meet up with the team next week when the hit the final leg of their road trip in Arizona. Utley is in Phoenix working with therapist Brett Fischer. Amaro said he is improving and moving forward. Could he rejoin the team for good next week? That would be ideal, but don’t bet on it.

–Michael Martinez will be in a boot for another two weeks as he deals with a foot fracture.

–Justin De Fratus is coming along. He pitched to live hitters on Monday after, throwing 30 pitches, after dealing with elbow trouble throughout spring training, He’ll throw again Thursday.

I’m a Phils fan, but I’m also realistic. The guy has a degenerative condition in his knees. He’ll never be the same player. Good thing Galvis is starting to heat up. The Utley era is unfortunately coming to an end.

We’re not dealing with cut fingers here. Howard’s wound was pretty major, involving infection and cutting deeply to remove stitches that didn’t dissolve. Utley has a permanent condition, and Martinez has a broken bone, which always take at least a month, usually more, to heal decently.

Medicine has improved, but healing still mostly involves Mother Nature, who isn’t the speediest woman in the world.

Time to move on from Chase Utley! We need a second baseman at this point and his chronic condition precludes him. His All Star caliber career is over and has been over since 2009. We need to reconcile the fact that his best years are gone forever. We need a second baseman and Utley isn’t the answer. In regard to Howard, we need to stop obsessing about his return. His best years are behind him and I doubt he comes back this year and does anything other than frustrate everyone. I see his future as a designated hitter. We need to make a move at the deadline for someone like David Wright or middle of the lineup power and forget about Utley and Howard. We can win without them.

No, it’s not time to move on. Brooks is right. Yes, his MVP-caliber career is over, but so what? As Brooks says, when he came back last year he still played at a high level. His condition may be even worse this year, but since they are paying him $15 M this year and next no matter what, it makes ZERO sense to walk away from one of the best players at his position until they see what he can still do.

The Phillies are already pushing up against the luxury tax threshold. I don’t see them adding $15 M for Wright, let alone another starter-quality second baseman.

You may think you’re a realist Lerch but you fantasize.
The Phils are so deep into Howard’s contract, there is no escaping reality, he has to play. The Phils don’t have the resources to just go and ‘make a move’ for someone like David Wright. Whether the Phils can or cannot win without the power is another story. I’ve seen lots of opportunities but not much cashing in so far. Perhaps that will come.

Regardless, when Howard comes back the spot will be there for him. If he starts knocking in runs on a pace like he did prior to 2010, the Phils are in gravy town.

As for Chase, regardless of his dropoff in production offensively, he was still one of the most dominant 2nd basemen in baseball last year. Look, I’ll take 15-20 hrs and a .275 BA anyday from my middle spot. If he is unable to produce at that level, if he is hurting so bad that his defense falls off, it will be time to make a move for sure but, lets ride this one out.

Remember, as of July last year, the Phils record was 1 win above .500 after 90 some games. It’s a long, long season. Teams like the Dodgers will even out, Teams like the Phils will only improve.

Sad to be looking forward to the comeback of Mini-Mart. That’s just how it goes. I wonder how long it is until we can see Fontenot. He can definitely provide more offense than Galvis with better than average defense.

Not knocking Galvis, I’m just saying.

Man, I got excited when I read the headline, hoping just hoping there would be some improvement on Ryan’s situation. I’m praying for him to play June 1, but we shall see.

I am not even sure why mini mart would make the 25 man roster. Can he give you more offense then Glavis, I do not think so, after the first couple of games Freddie has been a effecient 8 hole hitter and plays way better defense. I would not be surprised if Freddy picks up and plays some third base when Utley comes back and plays once or twice a week resting JImmy, Chase and Poly.

Brooks – The Phillies could absolutely make a move for David Wright. Why couldn’t they? You give them Polanco (to plug in for rest of year), D. Brown and a DeFratus type and they’re all over that trade. They need to get rid of his money.

@Dipsy: Whoa! Talk about baseball fantasy..LOL Brooks is right. It’s so unrealistic to think that the Phillies would even take an interest in David Wright and his $15 million salary. And it’s pure fantasy to think that the Mets would trade their franchise player on which they can build their young talented team around. And your trade proposal is yet again so unreal..Polanco, Brown and DeFratus?? LOL

The Mets desire to bring their payroll down is greater than their interest to “build around” David Wright. Trust me. That team stinks with Wright or without him. I believe the Mets would take a little less than equal value in order to get the salary relief. If you’re the Mets, you have a decent 3B for this year (Polanco) and a “future star” (Brown) and a nice arm (DeFratus) and Polanco drops off their books next year. Maybe you would have to bump up the DeFratus end a little to maybe an Aumont?

But just from the Phillies’ perspective, even if they wanted to make such a trade (and I hope they wouldn’t, although that’s debatable), do you think they would add $9 M of payroll (difference between Wright’s and Polanco’s salary) when by all indications they are right up against the luxury tax threshold?

Or are you assuming they also find someone to take on Blanton’s full salary?

Wright would be a defensive downgrade and he’s been injured way to much to be worth $15 million. I think he’ll be a free agent soon, too, if the Mets don’t extend him. He might spend the final part of 2012 in Philly, then be gone along with any prospects you’ve traded to get him.

Wright is not a free agent. Wright is not a defensive liability. Schmenk – I don’t expect a meaningful contribution from Utley. In fact I don’t think he’ll be back. I don’t think Howard will be able to contribute until August. IF this is the case, then Amaro will either have to A) sit on his hands and kiss off the season; B) Try to make a middling trade(s) that could provide some offense, but not enough, without wanting pass the tax; OR C) decide he’s gonna bust it this year by dealing for serious offense and say, with the imprimatur of ownership, luxury tax be damned for 2012. He can get under it again next year. Thats the thing: Can Amaro go past the luxury threshold? I think he can. That said, there is every reason to think that C is a possibility because its Cole’s last year and you don’t want to waste all your pitching. If we start to move towards C, then Wright makes a helluva lotta sense. He’s a great hitter and plays a position of need, and if he can stay healthy, he IS a $15 player. IMO, by August, the Mets will be looking to trade Wright.

So that’s a very big “IF”, but to some of your other points:
– The various stats indicate that Wright HAS been a defensive liability for the past 3 years
– He is not a free agent, but he might as well be: under contract for $15 M this year, with a club option for $15 M to keep him in 2013
– Although his hitting has been declining, he was still very good last year, in fact about as good a hitter as Utley: .254/.345/.427 vs. .259/.344/.425.
– Third base was not a position of need last year — Polanco was at least above average. Could he be substantially worse this year? Remains to be seen.